Tool - Lateralus
Radiohead - Amnesiac and the new live EP, I Might Be Wrong
Incubus - Morning View
Oysterhead - The Grand Pecking Order (hell, I didn't even think it was that great but it beats the hell out of most of the albums that came out this year)

I think Tool's Lateralus was easily the best new album of 2001. At first, I did not like the album as much because it's not as easily digested as their previous work. I now realize that they've reached a new plateau with this album, and I give them a lot of credit for a superb release. I honestly think it was their best work yet.

As for my playlist for 2001, it remains mostly the same as it always has. Classics never go out of style.